Senior Kim Warner picked up right where she left off in 2002 Sunday, leading the GW women’s soccer team to a 4-0 win at the University of Toledo. Last year’s Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year scored two goals to complement a shutout effort by the Colonial defense.

Also encouraging for GW were the contributions of two first-year players, red-shirt freshman Nicole Cavino and freshman Sarah Sample, who each scored a goal in the win.

GW Head Coach Tanya Vogel called the game “a great opener,” as her team returns to Washington to prepare for a two-game tournament at Georgetown next weekend.

“We saw some amazing play from our returnees,” Vogel said. “Our vets started the game right then had some help form our younger players. There really wasn’t anything I was unhappy with.”

Toledo was not as successful on the offensive end, as GW outshot the Rockets 10-5. Sophomore goalkeeper Kelly Paolucci did not even have to make a save to preserve the shutout, which Vogel said was because of the team’s four defensive backs.

“The first 10 to 15 minutes of any game are critical to see what each team is bringing on the field,” she said. “Our four backs were terrific in setting the tone and were the reason Kelly Paolucci didn’t have to face shots.”

Juniors Kelly Lawten and Lindsay Bruno and seniors Molly Sunderdick and Caite Terranova started in the backfield and kept Toledo away from the goal early before Warner broke the tie in the 22nd minute. The forward scored unassisted on a breakaway.

In the closing minutes of the first half, sophomore Ina Kain connected with Cavino on a free kick, which Cavino converted to put GW up 2-0 at halftime.

The Rockets were unable to rally coming out of the locker room in the second half, and Warner scored her second goal on an assist by Sample at the 72:00 mark. Sample then scored a goal of her own with under two minutes left in regulation to seal the win.

Sample and Cavino are two of five first-year players that Vogel said she hopes can contribute to a veteran squad. Some players were not with the team in Toledo, Ohio, as GW took a shortened travel roster with 18 of its 22 players.

“We’re really excited about our freshmen,” she said. “We can’t wait to get home and have a full roster.”

The Colonials play Virginia Commonwealth University at Georgetown Friday at 2 p.m. before taking on the Hoyas Sunday at 2:30 p.m.